Terry College of Business students applied their economics and analytics skills to real-world problems facing Georgians as part of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government Vinson Fellows Program.  

Paired with institute mentors, this year’s Vinson Fellows researched topics relevant to communities across Georgia, including health care access, leadership development, workforce development and public art’s connection to economic development. 

“We always look forward to our Vinson Fellows’ research presentations,” said Vinson Director Rob Gordon. “Each year, these exceptionally bright students apply their academic skills to public service research questions, learning how concepts they learn in the classroom can be used to explore and solve real-world challenges.” 

The Vinson Fellows program is an experiential learning opportunity for UGA undergraduates interested in state and local government. Supported by the UGA Parent Leadership Council, the program aims to inform students about the institute’s work, inspire them to engage in research projects, and provide innovative opportunities to learn from the institute’s experts.  

Shriya Garg, a third-year genetics and economics double major with a minor in biology, researched value-based health care and fee-for-service delivery models in Georgia. She explored the models’ impacts on health care costs, rural access and patient outcomes.  

“As a pre-med student, it’s really important to think critically about the health care system and ways to improve it,” Garg said. “The Vinson Fellows program was a great opportunity to apply my skills to a project that could have a positive impact on real people.” 

Institute of Government faculty member Suzette Arnold and staff member Scott King served as Garg’s project mentors. 

“I am proud of Shriya’s accomplishments. Her passion and dedication were truly commendable, and she delivered exceptional work,” Arnold said. “I firmly believe that the Vinson Fellows program offers more than just a research opportunity. It equips students to envision the possibilities in public service, explore career paths, embrace the principles of servant leadership and cultivate a mindset of service. After collaborating with Shriya and hearing the other Fellows’ presentations, I am confident that our future is in capable hands.” 

Three other Terry College of Business students recently finished public service research projects as Vinson Fellows, including Nila Karunakaran, Abby Kirry and Anna Rachwalski.  

Karunakaran, a third-year international affairs and management information systems double major, created a dashboard to help the public and policymakers better understand health care access in rural Georgia. She was mentored by institute staff members King and James Byars. 

Kirry, a fourth-year economics and sociology major, studied skills-based hiring trends and best practices for K-12 schools in helping students become career-ready. She was mentored by Carl Vinson Institute faculty member Rebecca Hunt.  

Rachwalski, a fourth-year political science and economics double major, studied Marion County, Georgia’s industry landscape and labor market to help identify local labor force gaps and industry sectors with growth potential. Institute faculty member Kristen Miller served as her mentor. 

This story was originally published at outreach.uga.edu.